Battery Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Battery Question
I'm wondering if my newer battery is any good? How long should a battery hold charge before it wont start the car? When I bought the car we had to charge the battery becuase it would not start..but it only sat a week. Now I'm charging the battery after 3.5 months, and it seems totally drained. After that long it's probably normal, but after only a couple weeks? That does not seem right? Does AC Delco warranty without a recipt?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
battery woes
NEW does NOT MEAN GOOD. New means NEW thats all. Had a 8 year battery go bad in about 7 or 8 months. Take it out and get it tested at a place that doesn't charge you to do this, like Advance. Mine took 1 1/2 hrs to fail but it WAS BAD. Then if defective get it replaced under warranty. If it is only a few months old it MUST have a free replacement. You might check how much current is being drained out of the battery when the car is idle. Wait at least 20 mins for the self shutdown electronics before going by the ammeter. I had a Taurus with the heated winshield that took a 900 CCA battery. It was dead after only one night with the dome light on. A small but constant current WILL discharge any battery. 
BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Last edited by bighank; Mar 7, 2007 at 01:40 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg MB.
When I bought my car it had a AAA battery about 6 months old and when I drove the car home (7hrs) I found out it was leaking acid at the top cover all over the ECU? So I ended up buying a Delco battery for it.
As the car sits there will be a slight draw so some type of battery tender is a good way to go.
As the car sits there will be a slight draw so some type of battery tender is a good way to go.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
NEW does NOT MEAN GOOD. New means NEW thats all. Had a 8 year battery go bad in about 7 or 8 months. Take it out and get it tested at a place that doesn't charge you to do this, like Advance. Mine took 1 1/2 hrs to fail but it WAS BAD. Then if defective get it replaced under warranty. If it is only a few months old it MUST have a free replacement. You might check how much current is being drained out of the battery when the car is idle. Wait at least 20 mins for the self shutdown electronics before going by the ammeter. I had a Taurus with the heated winshield that took a 900 CCA battery. It was dead after only one night with the dome light on. A small but constant current WILL discharge any battery. BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
battery problems
Batteries have date codes either stamped into or attached to them. If you got your battery at some reputable retailer the date code should be sufficient. Got one at sams and couldn't find the receipt but the date code saved the day. Before taking it back I would go have it tested at some place near you that will do that for no charge. Then when you go back to the retailer you will meet with (possibly) less resistance when you want to exchange it for a good one. I took a delco battery back to a different delco supplier on my wifes (then gfs) car and it was less than a year old but defective. They gave me a new one without any hassle. Hope u prevail. BIGHANK
BIGHANK
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 45
From: Marquette MI
I'm told that our cars have a large number of computers that put a drain on the battery even though everythings is shut down and that drain will run the battery down in two weeks unless you have some kind of charger on it.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo Grove IL
Dead Batteries
I don't drive it in the snow, and I know I have let it sit longer than this in the past with no problems. Maybe the new battery is no good?
Anyone have any ideas about a sudden battery drain occurring with the replacement of a new battery?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
If you drive your car for two miles at a time, then yes, you WILL need to charge its battery every so often.
Have the shop do a load test on the battery after it is fully charged. That should help determine whether the battery is performing up to specs. The warranty on a new AC Delco Professional battery is 50 months - free replacement and 2 years pro-rated replacement.
Have the shop do a load test on the battery after it is fully charged. That should help determine whether the battery is performing up to specs. The warranty on a new AC Delco Professional battery is 50 months - free replacement and 2 years pro-rated replacement.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
If you drive your car for two miles at a time, then yes, you WILL need to charge its battery every so often.
Have the shop do a load test on the battery after it is fully charged. That should help determine whether the battery is performing up to specs. The warranty on a new AC Delco Professional battery is 50 months - free replacement and 2 years pro-rated replacement.
Have the shop do a load test on the battery after it is fully charged. That should help determine whether the battery is performing up to specs. The warranty on a new AC Delco Professional battery is 50 months - free replacement and 2 years pro-rated replacement.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I'm wondering if my newer battery is any good? How long should a battery hold charge before it wont start the car? When I bought the car we had to charge the battery becuase it would not start..but it only sat a week. Now I'm charging the battery after 3.5 months, and it seems totally drained. After that long it's probably normal, but after only a couple weeks? That does not seem right? Does AC Delco warranty without a recipt?
You can get the battery checked for free, almost anywhere. First, get it checked to see if, in fact, the battery is the culprit. If the battery is okay, take your car to an auto-electric shop (if you don't want to putter around with it, yourself).
Good luck.
Dave